Weigela plant named ‘Kolmagira’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Weigela  plant named ‘Kolmagira’, characterized by its compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; yellow green and dark green variegated leaves with purple-colored margins; pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Weigela florida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KOLMAGIRA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Weigela plant, botanically known as Weigela florida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kolmagira’.

The new Weigela is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact Weigelas with uniquely-variegated leaves.

The new Weigela originated from a cross-pollination in 2001 of two unnamed seedling selections of Weigela florida, not patented. The new Weigela was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings in Boskoop, The Netherlands since 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Weigela plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Kolmagira’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kolmagira’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Weigela:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Yellow green and dark green variegated leaves with         purple-colored margins.     -   4. Pink-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Weigela differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Weigela are more vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Weigela have larger leaves than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Weigela have darker pink-colored flowers         than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Weigela differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Weigela are not as vigorous as plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Weigela have variegated leaves whereas         plants of the male parent selection do not have variegated         leaves.

Plants of the new Weigela can be compared to plants of the Weigela florida ‘Nana Variegata’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons in Boskoop, The Netherlands, plants of the new Weigela differ primarily from plants of ‘Nana Variegata’ in leaf coloration as plants of ‘Nana Variegata’ have green and white variegated leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of plants of the new Weigela, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Weigela.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Kolmagira’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Kolmagira’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Kolmagira’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the new Weigela have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in Boskoop, The Netherlands, in an outdoor nursery and under commercial production practices. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 15° C. Plants were three years from planting when the photographs were taken and plants used for the description were two years from planting. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Weigela florida ‘Kolmagira’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Weigela florida, not patented.         -   Male or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Weigela florida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Method.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four weeks at             temperatures of 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven weeks at             temperatures of 5° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight             weeks at temperatures of 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 100 days             at temperatures of 5° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; pale brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub. Compact, upright             and outwardly spreading plant habit; broad inverted             triangle. Moderate vigorous to vigorous growth habit. Freely             branching habit with about eleven lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development.         -   Plant height.—About 86 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 93 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 80 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color, developing stems.—Close to 178B.         -   Color, mature stems.—Close to N199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 8.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate to broadly obovate.         -   Apex.—Aristate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Rugose, pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Centers, close to             139A; towards the margins, close to 153C to 153D; at the             margin, close to 185A. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Centers, close to 137B; towards the margins, close to 153C             to 153D; at the margin, close to 185A. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Centers, close to 139A; towards the             margins, close to 151C to 151D slightly tinged with close to             between 163A and N163D; at the margin, close to 185A;             venation, close to 146D. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Centers, close to 191A; towards the margins,             between 146D and 151D slightly tinged with close to 163A; at             the margin, close to 185A; venation, close to 146D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144A to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Campanulate flowers arranged             in clusters of about eight flowers. Flowers not persistent.             Flowers face upright to slightly outward. About 220 flowers             develop per plant per season.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Weigela flower             from May to June in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five days on the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 3.4 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Obovate. Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter:             About 1 cm. Color: Close to 70B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Funnelform, five petals fused into a             long tube with separate petal lobes. Petal lobe length:             About 3.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 9 mm. Petal lobe             shape: Oblanceolate. Petal lobe apex: Obtuse. Petal lobe             margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:             Close to 70C. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to             72C; towards the base, close to 67C. Petal, fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 75C; towards the base, close to 75B;             faint yellow spot, close to 6D; color becoming closer to 70D             with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 75A to 75B; towards the base, close to 70B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five. Length: About 9 mm.             Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth; glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 63D. Color,             lower surface: Close to 63B to 63D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Angle: Mostly erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 50° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Between 146A to 183A to             183B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close             to N155B. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length:             About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity:             One per flower. Pistil length: About 3.1 cm. Style length:             About 3 cm. Style color: Close to 155A; towards the base,             close to 157A. Stigma shape: Oblate. Stigma color: Close to             155A. Ovary color: Close to 143C.         -   Fruits/seeds.—Fruit and seed production have not been             observed on plants of the new Weigela. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Weigela have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate     temperatures from about −20° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Weigela have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Weigela. 

1. A new and distinct Weigela plant named ‘Kolmagira’ as illustrated and described. 